Overcoming Resistance and Embracing Routine
How I Wrote The B:Side Way
I’ve just finished writing a new book called The B:Side Way: Mastering Leadership for Modern Times. It’s my first new book in six years, and let me tell you, getting it done was no small feat. Writing this book meant juggling a lot—raising my two sons, supporting my wife as she planned a major charity event, prepping to teach Fall Semester classes at ASU, and, of course, leading B:Side Capital. In the midst of all this, I managed to write a 500+ page book.
The question I often get asked is, “How did you do it?”
The truth is, it wasn’t easy. But it was possible because I learned to recognize and overcome Resistance, the invisible force that Steven Pressfield so brilliantly describes in his book The War of Art. If you’ve never read it, Pressfield defines Resistance as that inner voice of doubt and fear, the one that whispers to you that you can start tomorrow, that you’re too busy, or that you’re not good enough. It’s the enemy of creativity and productivity, and it’s something we all face, whether we realize it or not.
Recognizing the Enemy
For me, Resistance was the constant nagging feeling that there was too much going on, that the book could wait, that my time was better spent on other things. Pressfield describes Resistance as a force that doesn’t just try to stop you from doing your work; it actively tries to destroy the best parts of you—the parts that want to create, to innovate, and to bring something new into the world.
I knew that if I was going to finish this book, I had to confront Resistance head-on. That meant acknowledging its presence and deciding that it wasn’t going to win.
Embracing Routine
One of the most powerful tools I found in fighting Resistance was routine. Pressfield talks about how professionals show up every day, no matter what. They don’t wait for inspiration to strike; they sit down and do the work, trusting that the muse will eventually show up. This was a game-changer for me.
I had to carve out time each day to write. It didn’t matter if I was tired, if the boys had been up all night, or if the demands of running B:Side were pressing down on me. I had to find that quiet space, both physically and mentally, where I could focus on the task at hand.
My routine became sacred. Early mornings before the world woke up, late nights after everyone else had gone to bed—those were my golden hours. It was in those moments that I could hear my own thoughts clearly, without the noise of daily life. It wasn’t easy, and there were days when the last thing I wanted to do was sit down at my desk. But I knew that if I let one day slide, it would be easier to let the next day go, and then the next. So I showed up, every single day.
Discipline and Mastery
Routine alone wasn’t enough. I needed discipline. Discipline is what kept me in the chair, typing away, even when the words didn’t come easily. It’s what kept me going back to the manuscript, revising and refining, even when I thought I couldn’t make it any better.
Pressfield writes about the difference between amateurs and professionals. Amateurs do the work when it’s convenient; professionals do it no matter what. Writing this book required a professional mindset. It meant treating the work with respect, recognizing that each word, each sentence, was part of a larger whole that needed my full attention.
But discipline wasn’t just about the writing. It was also about managing everything else in my life. It meant being present for my family, supporting my wife in her charity work, being there for my students, and leading B:Side —all without letting the book fall by the wayside. It required balancing all these roles without dropping any of the balls I was juggling.
The Inspiration of The War of Art
Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art was more than just a book for me; it was a guide, a companion on this journey. Every time I felt Resistance creeping in, I turned to its pages for a reminder of what was at stake. Pressfield’s words were a constant nudge to keep going, to keep fighting, and to remember that the work itself was worth the struggle.
The idea that “the more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it” was a revelation. It helped me understand that the struggle wasn’t a sign that I was on the wrong path; it was proof that I was doing something meaningful, something that mattered.
Finishing the Fight
Now, as The B:Side Way: Mastering Leadership for Modern Times is about to hit shelves, I can look back and see the battle I fought to bring it to life. It wasn’t easy, and there were times when I didn’t know if I would make it through. But by recognizing Resistance, embracing routine, and disciplining myself to master the craft, I was able to push through.
Writing this book was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was also one of the most rewarding. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Resistance is always there, waiting to stop us from achieving our goals. But it’s also a sign that we’re on the right path, that what we’re doing is worth the fight.
So if you’re facing your own Resistance, whether it’s in writing, business, or life, know that you’re not alone. Show up every day, embrace the routine, and discipline yourself to do the work. The rewards, I promise, are worth it.